Wigan Vs. Man City [R]

[Alan D]

Any predictions for the upcoming match this weekend? :confused: Ill go with a 2-1 Man City win, and although Wigan have been on top form throughout the season, I think we might just nick it. ;)

Players to watch: Vassell and Cole strike-force working together again

[Brava Rookie]

Any predictions for the upcoming match this weekend? :confused: Ill go with a 2-1 Man City win, and although Wigan have been on top form throughout the season, I think we might just nick it. ;)

Players to watch: Vassell and Cole strike-force working together again


I'll go 2-0 City. Wigan is coming back down to earth IMO. Hopefully we can keep the form we showed against Birmingham.

[Alan D]

Wigan v Man City Preview

Wigan Athletic and Manchester City meet for only the ninth time in Boxing Day's clash at The JJB Stadium.

Only twice have the two North West sides locked horns in the league and that was back in Division Two - now League One - during the 1998/99 season.

City won both those games 1-0, but there have been many personnel changes in the ensuing seasons.

The Latics head into the match on the back of booking their place in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup and ending a five-game losing streak in The Premiership.

Wigan boss Paul Jewell must decide what changes to make to the team which saw off Bolton Wanderers in the cup in midweek.

Henri Camara, who bagged a hat-trick against Charlton last week, is likely to be recalled, probably at the expense of Andreas Johansson.

Jimmy Bullard is also tipped to return to the starting line-up after sitting out the Bolton encounter and he could come in for Alan Mahon.

Ryan Taylor is Jewell's only injury doubt with a back complaint, but the full back could lose his spot to Pascal Chimbonda in any case.

City make the short trip to Wigan with almost a full squad to choose from, with Danny Mills the only senior player absent.

Stuart Pearce is boosted by the return of Andy Cole and Richard Dunne after both players missed last week's drubbing of Birmingham through suspension.

Cole and Dunne will hope for recalls, but their replacements against Blues - Antoine Sibierski and Nedum Onuoha - both performed with credit.

Skysports.com prediction: 2-2
Both sides like to go forward so goals should be in store at The JJB.

Player to watch: Henri Camara.

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[OKTerrific]

Wigan are back to normal after playing WAYYY beyond themselves. Still a solid club, nontheless who will remain in the Premiership for years to come.

2-0 City. Goals from Claudio Reyna and Bradley Wright-Phillips.

[Alan D]

Our away record hasn't been that great this season but I think we will narrowly nick the win, and then head back home to welcome Chelsea on Wednesday :rolleyes:

[Alan D]

Well, 4-3 to Wigan. Our new priorities in the transfer windows should be defence judging by the performance by our defenders yesterday! We have Chelsea tomorrow and we don't really have much chance of winning that unless a miracle happens. I would like to think we have a chance of a draw against Chelsea but we're so inconsistant this season I really don't know what to expect. The rollercoaster ride of a Man City fan :rolleyes:

Are we actually doing that well this season? Our current league position is 8th, four points away from a UEFA Cup position, our last six games have consisted of three defeats, two wins and a draw. I think we should of picked up full 12 points in the last four matches we have played (Charlton, West Brom, Birmingham, Wigan) but we only picked up 6. If Man City want to have a chance of being in Europe, we have to start beating teams like Bolton, Newcastle, Fulham, West Brom and Wigan, who are the teams who are either just as good as or worse than us that have managed to beat us. We have Chelsea, Middlesbrough, Tottenham, Man Utd, Bolton and Newcastle in our next Premiership matches - all teams who are either in Europe or nearly around it. Them six upcoming games we should aim to pick up 10 points out of a possible 18.

Some positive things that came out of the Wigan game is to show how much work needs to be done defensively so the defenders can hopefully learn from their mistakes. Sibierski scored again which is encouraging and Barton, Cole, James and Sinclair had a decent match. Some negatives are that we definately need to consider perhaps buying a defender in January because our current defenders are sometimes making mistakes. We've only picked up three clean sheets all season http://itv.stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/PR/clsht.html

[Alan D]

LATICS EDGE THRILLER

Wigan Athletic won the battle of the European hopefuls after edging a rollercoaster game against Manchester City 4-3.

In a mesmerising encounter, Antoine Sibierski put City ahead after just three minutes before Wigan moved 4-1 in front through a double from Jason Roberts and goals from Lee McCulloch and Henri Camara.

A magnificent goal from Joey Barton gave City hope and substitute Andy Cole netted a third, but the visitors could not find an equaliser, with goalkeeper David James even sent up for a late corner.

City enjoyed the perfect start at The JJB Stadium when they took the lead inside three minutes. David Sommeil's cross to the far post was headed home by Sibierski, although questions have to be raised about the defensive skills of Pascal Chimbonda.

Wigan made light of the early setback and quickly offered a riposte. Jimmy Bullard's sweet drive was fumbled by James, while Camara dragged an attempt wide.

The Latics' pressure was rewarded with an equaliser on 11 minutes, with Sylvain Distin contributing to City's downfall.

Distin firstly failed to cut out Gary Teale's pass to Jason Roberts and then declined to chase the Wigan striker as he drilled his shot in off the post.

Teale was the provider for Wigan's second goal on 23 minutes as his cross from the right flank was met by the head of McCulloch, with Nedum Onuoha guilty of slack marking.

City almost drew level immediately, after an inadvertent one-two between Barton and Darius Vassell. Barton's pass hit Vassell on the heel and rebounded into the midfielder's path, but his delicate chip came back off the post.

After setting up the first two Wigan goals, Teale should have scored himself on 39 minutes after being picked out unmarked by Camara.

As he advanced on James, Teale tried to lift the ball over the onrushing keeper, but the England international blocked the shot.

Though the best chances were being created by Wigan, City were not without a threat of their own and Vassell headed a Trevor Sinclair cross over.

In the final minute of the first half, though, City conceded again, with Distin again at fault. Camara booted the ball downfield for Roberts to chase and he readily outmuscled Distin before placing his shot beyond James.

Early in the second half, the influential Barton was denied a goal for City twice in the same passage of play.

Barton's initial shot was saved by Mike Pollitt and bounced straight back to the midfielder, whose second attempt was headed off the line by Chimbonda.

City boss Stuart Pearce threw on Cole and Richard Dunne and both players were involved within a few minutes of their introduction.

Cole laid the ball off neatly for Sinclair to force Pollitt into a sprawling save from his volley, but it was Dunne's contribution that was more notable on 71 minutes.

Graham Kavanagh's pass released Camara and he made a mug of Dunne by pushing the ball through the defender's legs and finishing clinically past James.

But under Pearce, City are nothing if not game and they scored a sumptuous second goal on 77 minutes. The ball fell to the impressive Barton on the edge of the area and he let rip with a thunderous volley to give the visitors hope.

With two minutes left, City made it 4-3 as their persistence paid off. Sinclair's powerful run was thwarted by Wigan keeper Pollitt, but the ball ricocheted off the City winger to Cole, who swivelled sharply and lashed the ball home.

In the final minute, City could easily have equalised as Sinclair's cross from the right was met Sibierski, but unlike his earlier header, this one was off target.

Match Ratings: http://home.skysports.com/matchratings.asp?fxid=278780&clid=43&cpid=8

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